עָשָׁן
𐤏𐤔𐤍
ʻâshân
H6227 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A visible suspension of fine particles in air produced by burning substances; smoke. The term denotes the physical manifestation resulting from combustion (as of sacrificial offerings, incense, burning cities, or natural phenomena), and can also serve metaphorically to describe the transient, obscuring, or wrathful aspects of destruction and divine anger.
Semantic Range
smoke from fire or incense, visible clouds from burning, vapor, figurative for destruction or anger, theophanic manifestation, fleeting or transient thing
Root / Etymology
From the root ע-ש-ן (עשן), whose core meaning relates to smoking or producing smoke. The noun עָשָׁן (ʻâshân) is directly formed from this root and denotes the substance or phenomenon of smoke itself, distinguished from the verbal form 'to smoke' or 'to produce smoke.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical Hebrew, עָשָׁן appears with reference to ritual contexts (e.g., smoke rising from burnt offerings, Leviticus; or incense clouds, Exodus), as well as descriptions of natural events (e.g., the smoke on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19:18 as divine manifestation). The word is also used in poetic and prophetic texts as a metaphor for wrath, destruction, or ephemeral existence (e.g., 'smoke driven away,' Psalm 68:2). In these cases, smoke connotes both visibility and impermanence. In some texts, עָשָׁן signals the presence or glory of the deity or, conversely, the aftermath of judgment (Isaiah 9:18). English translations often capture the physical aspect but may underrepresent its metaphorical or theophanic senses. Contrasts with related terms include קִיטוֹר (qitor – vapor, mist) and עֵשֶׁת ('eshet – firebrand). Usage did not shift dramatically across biblical periods, but post-exilic literature shows increased symbolic use.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָשַׁן; smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust, anger); smoke(-ing).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עשן (ʿ-š-n) — to produce smoke, to emit vapor
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3565 | כּוֹר עָשָׁן | smoke |
| H6225 | עָשַׁן | smoke |
| H6226 | עָשֵׁן | smoke-filled |
| H6228 | עָשָׁן | smoke |
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6227-01 |
עָשָׁן֙ | ashan | HNcmsa |
smoke | smoke | 14 |
H6227-08 |
וְ/עָשָׁ֔ן | veashan | HC/Ncmsa |
in smoke | smoke | 4 |
H6227-07 |
וּ/כְ/עָשָׁ֖ן | ukheashan | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and like smoke | and like smoke | 1 |
H6227-02 |
עֲשָׁנָ֑/הּ | ashanah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
its smoke | her smoke | 1 |
H6227-05 |
כֶּ/עָשָׁ֤ן | keashan | HRd/Ncmsa |
like smoke | like smoke | 1 |
H6227-06 |
כְּ/עֶ֣שֶׁן | keeshen | HR/Ncmsc |
like smoke | like smoke | 1 |
H6227-03 |
עֲשָׁנ/וֹ֙ | ashano | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
its smoke | his smoke | 1 |
H6227-04 |
הֶ/עָשָׁ֖ן | heashan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of-smoke | the smoke | 1 |
H6227-09 |
וְ/כֶ/עָשָׁ֥ן | vekheashan | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and like smoke | and like smoke | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
25 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6227-01 |
Genesis 15:17 | עָשָׁן֙ | ashan | HNcmsa |
smoking | smoke |
H6227-03 |
Exodus 19:18 | עֲשָׁנ/וֹ֙ | ashano | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
its smoke | his smoke |
H6227-06 |
Exodus 19:18 | כְּ/עֶ֣שֶׁן | keeshen | HR/Ncmsc |
like smoke | like smoke |
H6227-01 |
Joshua 8:20 | עֲשַׁ֤ן | ashan | HNcmsc |
smoke | smoke |
H6227-01 |
Joshua 8:21 | עֲשַׁ֣ן | ashan | HNcmsc |
smoke | smoke |
H6227-04 |
Judges 20:38 | הֶ/עָשָׁ֖ן | heashan | HTd/Ncmsa |
of-smoke | the smoke |
H6227-01 |
Judges 20:40 | עָשָׁ֑ן | ashan | HNcmsa |
of-smoke | smoke |
H6227-01 |
2 Samuel 22:9 | עָשָׁן֙ | ashan | HNcmsa |
smoke | smoke |
H6227-08 |
Isaiah 4:5 | וְ/עָשָׁ֔ן | veashan | HC/Ncmsa |
and smoke | smoke |
H6227-01 |
Isaiah 6:4 | עָשָֽׁן | ashan | HNcmsa |
with smoke | smoke |